What I’m Reading Now – March 12, 2016
March 12, 2016
If you want to improve your ability to sell, lead, manage, and succeed, then you need to read. You need to read widely, which means reading outside of your domain.
Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist
When I was in college, I majored in Political Science and English Literature. I read everything that President Richard Nixon and his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger wrote. Kissinger is a fascinating character, and his impact and influence on the United States of America’s foreign policy is still great. His understanding of history makes him a great teacher of strategy and the long game. Niall Ferguson is an exceptional writer, too. This 900-page monster is the first half of this biography.
1594206538
The Global Code: How a New Culture of Universal Values is Reshaping Business and Marketing
This is the second book I’ve read by Clotaire Rapaille. His gift is being able to discover archetypes and condense them to a word or phrase that tells the entire story. His chapter on luxury brands, with the code “by hand” is a perfect example of how I believe business is being split into two major strategies.
1137279710
#AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness
I don’t believe that Snapchat is the be-all, end-all when it comes to marketing. Children grow up, and they quickly grow out of things. New things come along and replace things that once seemed permanent faster than ever. I like Vaynerchuk’s work because he is a practitioner. This book is the written form of questions he’s answered on his YouTube show. I am reading it because he has the best and most useful ideas about how to use the digital marketing tools available now.
0062273124
The Tides of Mind: Uncovering the Spectrum of Consciousness
I had a piece of my brain cut off in 1992. I was 25 years old. Since then, I have been interested in the brain, the mind, and human consciousness. Gelernter is a computer scientist. We often think of the computer as being like the brain, but it isn’t. Gelernter tackles the spectrum of consciousness, from focused to wandering and the free association we experience when we are near sleep. There is something to learn here, but I am not sure what I am going to walk away with quite yet.
0871403803
Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business
I admit it. I didn’t read The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Business and Life, Duhigg’s first book. Maybe I’ll go back and read after this one. I read almost everything I can about productivity, so this purchase was inevitable after reading the introduction.
081299339X